The Pasadena Playhouse News

Amber Riley has been cast as the emcee for ABC's upcoming live musical, The Little Mermaid Live!, according to Deadline.

East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest running theatre of color and largest producer of Asian American theatrical work, announces that it will close out its 54th season with a new production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins - the wickedly subversive Tony-award winning musical that tells the story of the nine notorious Americans who took their shot at the President of the United States. 

IAMA Theatre Company opens its 2019-20 12th anniversary season with an award-winning play about a mother and father trying to do right by their son. Jennifer Chambers directs Sarah Utterback (Grey's Anatomy), Tim Peper (Amazon's Jean Claude Van Johnson), Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue, Shameless, The Ranch and much more) and Olivia Liang (One Day at a Time) in the West Coast premiere of A Kid Like Jake by Daniel Pearle. Newly revised by the playwright for this production, A Kid Like Jake opens Oct. 3 in a Pasadena Playhouse guest production at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre, where performances will continue through Nov. 3; low-priced previews began Sept. 28.

The IAMA Theatre Company's west coast premiere of playwright Daniel Pearle's A KID LIKE JAKE is very blessed to have the sturdy acting talents of Sharon Lawrence, Tim Peper and Sarah Utterback. Jennifer Chambers ably directs the naturalistic, every-day dialogues, explosive arguments and confrontations between Peper and Utterback as Jake's liberal and excepting parents Greg and Alex.

At its core, the original production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (and the movie adaptation it spawned) unabashedly celebrated its campy outlandishness. But unlike the original source material which was filled to the brim with sassy sight gags, cartoonish mannerisms, and pulp thrills, this new, gloriously reimagined production---now on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse through October 20, 2019 helmed by director Mike Donahue---feels much more grounded in reality and feels much more guided by the emotions of its characters, rather than have them just play second banana to the monstrous plant of excess vying for all the attention. With this pivoted focus, this incredible new production also now requires a cast of performers that can truly showcase that change---and, wow, did they ever find them in this brilliant ensemble!

Opening night of Little Shop of Horrors was celebrated last night at the Pasadena Playhouse. The production stars George Salazar as “Seymour Krelborn;” Mj Rodriguez as “Audrey;” Kevin Chamberlin, as “Mr. Mushnik;” Matthew Wilkas as “Orin Scrivello;” and Amber Riley as “Audrey ll.” 

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard are thrilled to announce that acclaimed film, TV and theatre veterans Frances Fisher (a?oeTitanic,a?? Native Gardens, Barbeque), will star as a?oeQueen Eleanora?? and Gregory Harrison (a?oeTrapper John, M.D.,a?? Broadway'sChicago, Steel Pier), will star as a?oeKing Henry IIa?? in its upcoming production of THE LION IN WINTER, written by James Goldman and directed by Sheldon Epps.  

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Winner 2018 Best Direction of a Musical - Intimate Theatre) announces its 28th Season of shows!

BroadwayWorld is saddened to learn that Broadway stage manager, Arthur Gaffin, has passed away.

Beloved actor Hal Linden of TV's Barney Miller is equally famous for his Broadway appearances including the recipient of a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for 1971's The Rothschilds. He is about to open on September 20 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in the West Coast premiere of the new musical Grumpy Old Men.

George Salazar, who will soon take the stage in Pasadena Playhouse's production of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour, has some history with this show!

Due to scheduling issues, Lillias White will no longer be able to perform in I DIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC for this limited run at the Rubicon Theatre; and Yvette Cason (Broadway credits include Play On!, for which she also won an Ovation Award and Dreamgirls. Her regional credits include Blues in the Night at the Wallis and Shout Sister Shout at the Pasadena Playhouse), will now perform with the production through closing.

IAMA Theatre Company opens its 2019-20 12th anniversary season with an award-winning play about a mother and father trying to do right by their son.

On the latest episode of the Maxamoo Theatre and Performance Podcast, Patty Devery, PennyMaria Jackson, and Jack Phillips Moore preview shows they're excited about as the summer winds down and the 2019-2020 season begins.

IAMA Theatre Company reconnects to the human heart in 2019-20, the company's 12th season, with three poignant premieres a?" a drama, a musical and a dark comedy.

Playwrights' Arena announces the cast for LAS MUJERES DEL MAR (THE WOMEN OF THE SEA) by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, which includes Valentina Guerra, Adriana Sevahn Nichols, Gabriela Ortega, Dyana Ortelli, Israel Lopez Reyes, Camila Rozo, Eddie Ruiz

The critically acclaimed and award-winning Rogue Artists Ensemble is proud to launch its second year of their new works incubator Rogue Lab. After a successful first year and the public presentation of six new works in the inaugural Rogue Lab Reading series, which brought together 75 Los Angeles-based artists for one weekend of new work, Rogue Artists is opening submissions for its new class of playwrights, designers and directors who dream of creating plays that stretch the boundary of what is currently being done onstage.

The Delaware Theatre Company and 59E59 Theaters announce the east coast premiere of the play, ONE NOVEMBER YANKEE, written and directed by Josh Ravetch and starring two-time Emmy and five-time Golden Globe nominee, Stefanie Powers and four-time Golden Globe nominee, Harry Hamlin.

Back by popular demand, platinum selling recording artist and Tony Award nominated actor Sam Harris returns to The Purple Room in Palm Springs with his show Stripped for two performances only on Friday, August 30, and Saturday, August 31, at 8pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents. Along with his musical director, Harris performs Broadway and pop songs from his stellar 30-year career. No band, no backup singers. Just two stars and a piano in the desert.

The Barrow Group announces its 2019-2020 season, which consists of three timely productions that invite audiences to take a look deep within-inspiring positive change in action and awareness.